We are a not for profit, fair trade charity. We exist to combat human trafficking – simple as that. We do this in a few different ways: • by purchasing hand made products at fair trade prices to provide sustainable income for vulnerable women. • by partnering with producer groups to help provide appropriate work facilities and training. • by supporting vulnerable children to prevent human trafficking.

The Starfish Parable

A man goes out on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up in the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water. “What are you doing, son?” the man asks. “You see how many starfish there are? You’ll never make a difference”. The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean. “It sure made a difference to that one” he said.

• We believe that everyone is important and should be treated with dignity and respect.• We oppose the many injustices of extreme poverty, particularly human trafficking and sexual slavery.• We seek to encourage awareness, compassion and a strategic response to make generational change for people living in poverty….one life at a time.• We support carefully selected organisations of integrity, working especially to empower girls physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially.• We believe that rescue is necessary, but prevention is ideal.• We believe it is crucial that all children attend school.• We are about “empowering the privileged to empower the poor”.

Empower is located at Shop 3, 112 Acland Street mall, St Kilda. All our products have been carefully selected by us from small businesses offering training and employment to women needing an answer to poverty and injustice.

Our producers are mostly girls and women who have been impacted by human trafficking or at risk of sexual exploitation.

The vibrant colours and excellent quality of the products are testimony to the incredible capacity of the women, to not only survive, but to shine and thrive….. and we cheer them on.

The products are great – the cause is greater. Every dollar spent in our Empower store is helping make a difference.